Jaguar Says Stop Discriminating Against Diesel

Winger said:

Is all diesel really bad for the environment? I just wonder if newer diesel technology is a lot better about these things. Perhaps diesel is bad in the UK because of the build up of diesel cars from the past over time.

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Apologies for dragging up a very old debate but being from the UK then I thought my perspective might be helpful.
Essentially the UK actively promoted diesel for a goodly number of years and in practice the motor manufactures churned out very decent diesel versions of already popular cars. It soon became clear to those that drove diesels that there was a substantial improvement in mpg and shed loads more torque when compared to equivalent petrol engines.
Many that needed to drive for a living were further enticed into diesels by way of income tax breaks that were too good to be ignored. Indeed from 2005 till 2018 my company cars were diesels. It has only been this year (2018) that it become more tax advantageous to drive petrol.
Much of the demonising of diesels was created by the VW fiasco and had that not happened I suspect diesels would still be in favour. Frankly I genuinely believe VW were the catalyst for the diesel bad press and this is one reason why I will never buy a car from that company. I also believe they are still being more than a little economical with the truth and in regards their hybrid cars. I “borrowed” a Golf GTE that apparently could achieve 130 mpg. The reality was only for 30 miles before you were obliged to use the petrol engine to charge up the battery. Then the fuel consumption tumbled to 35 mpg at best. Even on a 240 mile journey I was never was able to charge the battery. Shame in many ways because they do produce very desirable cars but don't seem so good in the honesty department.
With the latest Euro 6 emission regime many diesels are far cleaner than petrol’s! Indeed my diesel Jag spews out far less pollution than my BMW, a situation that is a complete reversal of the norm. Don't get me wrong I still think diesel is an inherently dirty fuel but I would also say diesels are very rapidly responding to cleaning up their act and to my way of thinking don't entirely deserve their current reputation.
I can recall driving through London many times in the distant past and being choked by petrol fumes whereas nowadays more so by diesel. So the solution is not one or the other fuel but a recognition both are harmful and should be cleaned and tidied up as far is humanely possible until such time something better comes along.
Do also remember fuel in the UK and much of Europe is way more expensive that in the USA and whenever I have a long distance appointment it will always be the Jag I take on the basis that does circa 50 mpg where the BMW does circa 35 mpg. UK fuel costs us around 8 dollars a gallon so as you can see another compelling reason to go diesel.
Hope this puts some context as to why diesel became the fuel of choice and for the private rather than business motorist it is probably still the preferred choice.